Flotation system including improved locking features

Abstract

A water mattress configuration including a top cover interconnected with a lower member or members in order to capture on or move liquid-filled bladders therebetween. In one embodiment, such interconnection is made by a sliding connection allowing the top cover to "glide" into place. Another embodiment contemplates interconnecting by hooked members entering slots.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A water mattress construction, comprising: a lower member including a base member including an upwardly-disposed cavity at least partially defined by a perimeter;   a liquid-filled bladder positioned atop said lower member;   an upper member positioned atop said bladder, said upper member combining with said lower member to at least partially define a cavity at least partially containing said bladder;   sliding interconnection means to connect said upper and lower members, said interconnection means itself comprising: a first elongate channel member defining a channel portion; and   a first elongate flange member having a portion slidably fitting within said channel portion, said first elongate channel member attached to one of said upper and lower members, said first elongate flange member attached to the other of said upper and lower members, and one of said said first elongate channel member and said first elongate flange member being attached to said perimeter, such that a sliding interconnection is provided between said upper and lower members; and     a detachable connection independent of said sliding interconnection means, said detachable connection intermediate said top and bottom members and configured to provide a portion of said top member to be bent out of place to allow access to said bladder without disengaging said sliding interconnection means.   
     
     
       2. The construction claimed in claim 1 wherein said detachable connection is hook-and-loop constuction. 
     
     
       3. The water mattress construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower member includes a tray portion and a base portion, wherein said tray portion includes a floor and at least one upwardly-disposed side wall, and wherein said flange member extends from said said wall. 
     
     
       4. A water mattress construction, comprising; a base portion defining a floor and an upstanding perimeter;   a tray portion disposed atop said base portion, said tray portion including a floor portion and at least one upstanding side wall, and an elongate flange portion extending outwardly from said side wall;   a top portion disposed atop said tray portion, said top portion combining with said tray to define an inner cavity;   a liquid-filled bladder within said cavity and at least partially resting on said floor and said wall of said tray portion; and   a channel member attached to said top portion, said channel member defining a channel portion configured to accept said flange portion of said tray such that a sliding interconnection is provided intermediate said top member and said tray member to provide selective access to said bladder.   
     
     
       5. The water mattress as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a detachable connection independent of said sliding interconnection, said detachable connection intermediate said top portion and said tray portion and configured to provide a portion of said top member to be bent out of place to allow access to said bladder without disturbing said sliding interconnection. 
     
     
       6. The water mattress as claimed in claim 5, wherein said detachable connection intermediate said top portion and said tray portion is of hook-and-loop construction. 
     
     
       7. The water mattress as claimed in claim 4, wherein said elongate flange portion extending from said side wall is a first elongate flange portion extending from a first side wall, and said tray portion further comprising a second side wall having a second elongate flange portion extending in opposing direction with respect to said first flange, and further comprising a second elongate channel member attached to said top member and defining a channel portion configured to accept said second flange portion of said tray such that a load placed atop said top portion tends to encourage more engagement of said flange portions within their corresponding channel members. 
     
     
       8. The water matress as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a detachable connection independent of said sliding interconnection, said detachable connection intermediate said top portion and said tray portion and configured to provide a portion of said top member to be bent out of place to allow access to said bladder without disturbing said sliding interconnection. 
     
     
       9. The water mattress as claim in claim 8, wherein said detachable connection intermediate said top portion and said tray portion is of hook-and-loop construction.